Which international scholar’s work influenced Indian village studies?

The correct answer is - Robert Redfield

Key Points

• Robert Redfield
  • Redfield was an American anthropologist whose work focused on the study of rural and village societies.
  • His research on Mexican villages provided significant insights into the structure and function of village life.
  • Redfield's concept of the folk-urban continuum influenced many anthropologists and sociologists in their understanding of village dynamics, including those studying Indian villages.
  • His work emphasized the importance of traditional and cultural aspects in understanding rural communities.

Additional Information

• Karl Marx
  • Marx was a German philosopher, economist, and revolutionary socialist.
  • His theories, particularly those related to class struggle and capitalism, influenced various aspects of social science, but his focus was not specifically on village studies.
• Max Weber
  • Weber was a German sociologist, philosopher, and political economist.
  • He is known for his work on the sociology of religion, bureaucracy, and the development of modern capitalism, but village studies were not his primary focus.
• Emile Durkheim
  • Durkheim was a French sociologist known for his foundational work in sociology.
  • His studies on social integration, collective consciousness, and anomie were influential, but his work did not specifically center on village studies.